The final round of the 2019 JK Tyre-FMSCI National Karting Championship’s X-30 class was held at the Meco Kartopia track in Bengaluru, and after five rounds, Chennai's Nirmal Umashankar and Bengaluru's Ruhaan Alva emerged victorious, clinching the title in the Senior and Junior categories, respectively.

Umashankar remained in firm control at the top of the standings from the very beginning of the championship. After moving into the lead at the end of Round 1, Umashankar – who was previously a regular in the now defunct Euro JK class of the JK Tyre National Racing Championship – consolidated that lead in the next three rounds and by the end of Round 4, he held a formidable lead of 56 points. He scored a total of 23 points in the final round to take his tally of points up to 160 and win the championship in the Senior category. Aditya Swaminathan took 2nd place overall, with a total of 101 points, followed by Debarun Banerjee in 3rd place with 81 points.

The Junior category saw Alva seal championship victory after the first race of the weekend itself. He’d moved into the lead after the previous round and scored an additional 34 points in the final round of races to win with a lead of 30 points. Arjun S Nair and Ryan Mohammed finished 2nd and 3rd, respectively, overall in the Junior category.

Meanwhile, Bengaluru's Ishaan Madhesh clinched the title in the Cadet category, having dominated the championship from the very beginning. He ended up winning by a margin of 55 points from Shriya Lohia. Sai Shiva Makesh Sankaran took 3rd place overall with 117 points.

The X-30 class of the JK Tyre-FMSCI National Karting Championship saw participants compete in karts powered by 125cc, two-stroke IAME X30 engines. As winners in their respective categories, both Umashankar and Alva will now go on to participate in the X-30 world finals later this year.

Charles Leclerc was able to successfully keep the Mercedes duo of Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas at bay to win the 2019 Italian GP, handing Ferrari its first win on home soil in nine years. The 21-year-old has now become only the 11th driver to win an F1 race for Ferrari at Monza.

Coming off the high of scoring his maiden F1 win at the Belgian GP, Leclerc kicked off the Italian GP weekend on a high note, topping the first two practice sessions and then clinching pole position. Despite leading majority of the race, it wasn’t an easy victory for Leclerc – he was unable to really pull away from the Mercedes drivers and lost the support of his teammate Sebastian Vettel early on as the latter spun at the Ascari chicane while running in 4th place and then made contact with Lance Stroll while re-joining the track. Soon after, Stroll made a similar error and forced Pierre Gasly into the gravel. Pitting for a new front wing dropped Vettel to last place and his race went from bad to worse when he was handed a 10 second stop/go penalty for the incident with Stroll, essentially ending his chances of scoring any points. Stroll, on the other hand, received a drive through penalty.

Out at front, Hamilton went for the undercut, pitting for medium tyres. Leclerc pitted a lap later and emerged just ahead of Hamilton, with Ferrari opting to give him the more durable hard tyres. The two then spent close to 20 laps battling one another – Hamilton attempted a move into the second chicane on lap 23, but Leclerc cut to the right of the track, forcing Hamilton into the run-off. Leclerc then endured a tense moment on lap 36 as he locked up into the first chicane, but he was able to hold on to the lead as Hamilton started struggling on his medium tyres. Meanwhile, the tussle between the two allowed Bottas to catch up on fresh tyres.

Hamilton closely followed Leclerc for the next few laps, but then he locked up into the first chicane on lap 42, allowing Bottas to move up to 2nd place. Despite being on fresher tyres, Bottas was unable to launch an attack on Leclerc and had to settle for 2nd place as Leclerc crossed the chequered flag to claim his second consecutive victory. Hamilton finished 3rd – a late pit stop allowing him to set the fastest lap and grab an additional point. As a result, he’s only lost two points to his teammate Bottas in the drivers’ standings and yet leads the championship by 63 points.

Renault enjoyed its best finish of the year so far with Daniel Ricciardo and Nico Hülkenberg finishing 4th and 5th respectively. Alexander Albon finished 6th followed by Sergio Pérez, who benefitted by pitting under the virtual safety car. Max Verstappen endured a difficult race – having started from the back of the grid due to engine penalties, he had to pit on the very first lap after damaging his front wing at the start. He was ultimately able to recover to finish 8th, followed by Antonio Giovinazzi and Lando Norris.

A total of three drivers retired from the race. Carlos Sainz had to pull over after his front right wheel was not properly attached, while Daniil Kvyat and Kevin Magnussen suffered an oil leak and hydraulic issues.

Gaurav Gill will make his first WRC2 appearance this season, starting with the Rally of Turkey that’s scheduled for later this month. Earlier this year, JK Tyre Motorsport announced that it would return to rallying, with Gill spearheading the new programme. At the time, JK Tyre had confirmed that Gill would indeed be competing in select rounds of the World Rally Championship 2 (WRC2) and it has now emerged that the first of these outings will be at the Rally of Turkey, set to be held from September 12-15, 2019.

This isn’t the first time that Gill has participated in the WRC2 – he made his championship debut last year with MRF backing. Driving a Ford Fiesta R5 run by the WRC-winning M-Sport outfit, he participated in a total of four rallies – in Italy, Finland, Wales and Australia – and won a total of 11 stages. Gill is expected to run the M-Sport-developed Fiesta R5 this year as well, but the car will be sporting a fresh livery carrying ‘JK Racing’ branding.

Gill’s Rally of Turkey WRC2 outing will be the first in a series of planned outings this year. “We will carefully pick and choose the rallies that I will participate in this year, keeping in mind the car, the terrain and my strengths,” said Gill, who recently made history by becoming the first motorsport athlete to win the coveted Arjuna Award. “I am excited about my first stint with a renowned team and a new support system in the formidable JK Tyre Motorsport,” he added.

Gill will also continue with co-driver Glenn Macneall. Additionally, this will mark the first time that he will be participating in the championship as a registered driver; all four of this WRC2 outings last year were as an unregistered entry. This means he will be eligible to pick up championship points this year.

“I have worked with Gaurav briefly last year and it’s great to be able to continue that collaboration with him again this year. As a three-time Asia Pacific Champion, Gaurav is a talented driver with a lot of potential and we’re all looking forward to seeing how he progresses in the FIA World Rally Championship’s WRC 2 series,” said M-Sport’s team principal, Richard Millener.

“He’ll be taking to the wheel of our latest rally car – the all-new EcoBoost-powered R5 MkII, which made its competitive debut earlier this summer. A lot of work and technology has gone into the design and development of this new car, and we’re all excited to see what some of the world’s best drivers can do behind the wheel – Gaurav included,”

Sanjay Sharma, head - motorsport, JK Tyre, also commented on how this WRC2 outing could bring Indian motorsport further into the spotlight: “This will change the way all stakeholders will look at Indian motorsport. Youngsters can hope for brighter prospects in the sport as schools and colleges will acknowledge Gaurav’s recognition and will treat it at par with any other sport. Sponsors will see more value in associating with the sport too, beyond using it as a testing ground.”

]]>Unnatee Gidithuri Unnatee Gidithuri Gaurav Gill to compete in WRC2 Rally of Turkey2461402461401Unnatee Gidithuri Gaurav Gill to compete in WRC2 Rally of Turkey2461402461401Fri, 6 Sep 2019 16:25:00 +1000414048Unnatee Gidithuri Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Gill&#8217;s Rally of Turkey outing is set to be the first in a series of planned WRC2 outings this year. Click here to know more.Gill&#8217;s Rally of Turkey outing is set to be the first in a series of planned WRC2 outings this year. Click here to know more.Fri, 6 Sep 2019 16:25:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/motor-sports-news/gaurav-gill-to-compete-in-wrc2-rally-of-turkey-414048#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Motorsport+feed4140482019 JK Tyre NRC, Round 2: Raghul Rangasamy takes LGB Formula 4 lead

Round 2 of the 2019 JK Tyre FMSCI National Racing Championship got underway at the Kari Motor Speedway over the weekend and saw plenty of nail-biting action in the different classes. The premiere class of the series saw three different race winners, but it's reigning LGB Formula 4 champion Raghul Rangasamy, who jumped to the top of the standings in the category. The round also played host to the inaugural JK Tyre Inter-College Cup races. Here’s a rundown of what Round 2 served up in each class:

LGB Formula 4

The three races in the LGB Formula 4 class saw some hard-fought battles. Two privateers – Manav Dougall and Akshay Kapoor – locked out the front row for the first race, followed by Diljith TS and Vishnu Prasad. Prasad was able to gain three places on the opening lap itself to move into the lead, but Diljith TS was right behind him and successfully overtook him on the next lap. Sohil Shah was able to take advantage of the tussle between the two frontrunners and passed both of them to take the lead and eventually win the race.

Diljith TS started the reverse-grid second race from 7th place, but steadily made his way up the order and ended up clinching victory ahead of Rangasamy and Sandeep Kumar A. However, Rangasamy did go on to win the third race of the weekend. His MSport teammate Prasad was leading the race with a big margin when a safety car wiped out his advantage and he had to settle for 2nd place, followed by Sohil Shah. This takes Rangasamy's points tally up to 47 – just two ahead of Prasad.

Mira Erda once again took victory in the women’s category. She’s currently leading the standings in the category, followed by Megaa KS and Anushriya Gulati.

Tanay Gaikwad dominated in the Suzuki Gixxer Cup, winning both races over the weekend to collect the maximum possible 20 points. He now joins Syed Muzammil Ali at the top of the standings. Syed Muzammil Ali himself narrowly missed out on victory and had to settle for 2nd place in both the races.

Ikshan Shanbag continued his winning streak in the Red Bull Road to Rookies class, winning both the races in Round 2 as well. As a result, Shanbag comfortably won the 2019 Red Bull Road to Rookies Cup, earning the opportunity to represent India at the qualifiers for the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup – an international competition that serves as a feeder to the MotoGP Moto 3 championship.

Aditi Krishnan and Aryan Gaurav completed both the races of the weekend in 2nd and 3rd place, respectively.

Aaroh Ravindra enjoyed a strong Round 2 in the JK Tyre Novice Cup. He managed to finish on the podium in all three races – winning Race 1 and 3, and finishing Race 2 in 2nd place, to hold on to his place on the top of the standings with a total of 52 points. Chirag Ghorpade bagged two 2nd-place finishes over the weekend to slot into overall 2nd place with 39 points.

David Ryan was the standout performer in the inaugural round of the JK Tyre Inter-college Cup, winning both the races on the first day. Sai Prithvi S ended up winning the last race, but a 2nd-place finish was enough for Ryan to hold on to the overall 28-point lead. Sai Prithvi S and Kedin Akhil are tied for 2nd overall with 16 points each.

After missing out on victory at the 2019 Bahrain GP and Austrian GP, Charles Leclerc was finally able to claim his first-ever F1 race win after successfully fending off Lewis Hamilton to win the 2019 Belgian GP. With this, Leclerc has also handed Ferrari its long-awaited first victory this season.

Right off the bat, Ferrari seemed to have the upper hand at Spa-Francorchamps; Leclerc topped two of the practice sessions and then went on to qualify in pole position. The first lap saw plenty of drama – Leclerc held on to his lead at the start, while behind him, his teammate Sebastian Vettel was passed by Hamilton. But Vettel quickly retook 2nd place, taking advantage of the slipstream to pass Hamilton on the Kemmel Straight. The safety car was brought out when Max Verstappen’s Red Bull car went into the barriers at Eau Rouge after making contact with Kimi Raikkonen.

Once racing resumed, Leclerc was again able to pull away out at front as Vettel locked up at La Source. Vettel then came under pressure from Hamilton, but was able to hold on to 2nd, thanks to the Ferrari’s superior straight-line speed. Ferrari then took a bold strategy decision and pitted Vettel on lap 15. This did temporarily hand Vettel an advantage as he took the lead once the remaining front runners pitted around six laps later. However, with Leclerc, Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas now on fresher tyres, they started closing in on Vettel.

With Vettel now on a two-stop strategy, he was instructed by the team to let Leclerc by. Vettel then spent the next few laps fending off Hamilton and buying Leclerc some additional time before being passed by both Hamilton and Bottas. Unable to finish the race on those same tyres, Vettel pitted once again and re-joined the track in 4th place, nearly 19sec off Bottas.

“On the other hand, it has been a very difficult weekend. We have lost a friend first of all. It’s very difficult in these situations so I would like to dedicate my first win to him.”

A 2nd place finish was enough for Hamilton to further extend his championship lead to 65 points from Bottas. Alexander Albon enjoyed a strong first race for Red Bull, climbing from 17th on the grid to finish 5th after successfully overtaking Sergio Perez on the very last lap. The last lap saw two drivers retire – Lando Norris was set to take his career-best finish when he suffered a sudden loss of power and had to pull over, while Antonio Giovinazzi crashed at Pouhon. This promoted Daniil Kvyat to 7th place, followed by Nico Hulkenberg, Pierre Gasly and Lance Stroll.

Results

POS

DRIVER

CAR

LAPS

GAP

1

Charles Leclerc

Ferrari

44

1h23m45.710s

2

Lewis Hamilton

Mercedes

44

0.981s

3

Valtteri Bottas

Mercedes

44

12.585s

4

Sebastian Vettel

Ferrari

44

26.422s

5

Alexander Albon

Red Bull/Honda

44

1m21.325s

6

Sergio Perez

Racing Point/Mercedes

44

1m24.448s

7

Daniil Kvyat

Toro Rosso/Honda

44

1m29.657s

8

Nico Hulkenberg

Renault

44

1m46.639s

9

Pierre Gasly

Toro Rosso/Honda

44

1m49.168s

10

Lance Stroll

Racing Point/Mercedes

44

1m49.838s

11

Lando Norris

McLaren/Renault

43

Not running

12

Kevin Magnussen

Haas/Ferrari

43

1 Lap

13

Romain Grosjean

Haas/Ferrari

43

1 Lap

14

Daniel Ricciardo

Renault

43

1 Lap

15

George Russell

Williams/Mercedes

43

1 Lap

16

Kimi Raikkonen

Alfa Romeo/Ferrari

43

1 Lap

17

Robert Kubica

Williams/Mercedes

43

1 Lap

18

Antonio Giovinazzi

Alfa Romeo/Ferrari

42

Spun off

-

Carlos Sainz Jr.

McLaren/Renault

1

Power Unit

-

Max Verstappen

Red Bull/Honda

0

Collision

]]>Unnatee Gidithuri Unnatee Gidithuri 2019 Belgian GP: Leclerc claims maiden F1 victory2461402461401Unnatee Gidithuri 2019 Belgian GP: Leclerc claims maiden F1 victory2461402461401Mon, 2 Sep 2019 12:31:00 +1000413982Unnatee Gidithuri Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Charles Leclerc was finally able to convert pole position to victory at the Belgian GP; Hamilton and Bottas finish on the podium.Charles Leclerc was finally able to convert pole position to victory at the Belgian GP; Hamilton and Bottas finish on the podium.Mon, 2 Sep 2019 12:31:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/motor-sports-news/leclerc-claims-maiden-f1-victory-at-2019-belgian-gp-413982#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Motorsport+feed413982X1 Racing League: All you need to know
Launching a motorsport league in India is a risky proposition. The success of cricket’s IPL led to an explosion of leagues across sports in India. But where some succeeded, many failed. Then there’s the fact that for all its visceral appeal, motorsport, especially domestic motorsport, remains a niche sport.

But co-founders and racers Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim are confident they’ve hit upon the winning formula.

Set to flag off in November, they brought the media, influencers, celebrities, the country’s top racers and supercar owners together in a ‘Speed Summit’ at the Buddh International Circuit, earlier this month, to give them a taste of what’s in store when the racing gets underway.

The first X1 event was announced last year, and it offered promise and questions in equal measure.

Who’s going to be racing?

Teams will field four drivers each – one international male driver, one international female driver, one Indian international driver and an Indian domestic driver. X1 says it is in talks with the top drivers globally, across Formula E, NASCAR, Le Mans and Indy 500, as well as former F1 racers. Drivers will be picked via a draft but just who is in the driver pool is yet to be announced, with co-founder Armaan Ebrahim only saying, “We’ve got enough for now and we’re growing.”

What are they going to be racing?

The X1 Racing League is working with Coimbatore-based JA Motorsports – the same company that builds cars for the MRF Challenge – to develop a car for the championship. The league offered a taste of the cars they’d like to race, giving journalists a ride in two JA-designed two-seater cars, but a decision on the exact specifications of the car has yet to be made.

“We’re looking at it, there are various options,” said Ebrahim. “In the next two months, by July, we’ll have an answer to the car.”

Who will they be racing for?

There will be eight teams competing in the league, each representing a city or a state. Potential franchise owners will pay Rs. 5.5 crore for a franchise, inclusive of all costs. They will also be locked-in for a three-year period, by when the league predicts teams will be able to break even.

“The city franchise will not necessarily be a Tier-I city, it can even be a Tier-II city or even a
Tier-III city,” said Aditya Patel.

Four franchises have already been sold, but the league is being tight-lipped on who has bought them, until all eight have been picked up.

“We’re in talks with a lot more people also for the other four but once we have all eight together
we’ll announce them altogether, including the city that they represent,” said Patel. “In some cases it may be a state but a Tier-I city is the most likely.”

Where will they race?

The X1 Racing League will race on a mix of street circuits and permanent tracks. The Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida and the MMRT on the outskirts of Chennai have been confirmed as two host venues. As for the city tracks, the league had originally hoped to host street races in Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh and Mumbai. But for the first season, the schedule will feature just one street track. With the league set to take place across four weekends and three tracks, one circuit looks set to host two rounds.

“We don’t want to throw all our eggs in the basket in the first year,” said Patel. “If we do everything in year one, what do we have to offer in year two?”

“We do have a lot of things in mind,” he went on to say. “We do have some cities that we’ve identified and some tracks that are approved but you’ll have to wait for that announcement.”

The League events will run from November to December but will be preceded by its eSports competition, which will be held across eight weeks, beginning in July or August and running until October.

Where’s the money coming from?

Last June, X1 Racing announced that it would invest Rs 100 crore over three years in the league and in promotion of motorsport in the country (excluding investment in R&D, technology, street-
circuit infrastructure and safety equipment), with a five- to seven-year break-even period.

At its Speed Summit in New Delhi, it revealed that its investors include a mix of start-up entrepreneurs, like Kunal Shah, Jitendra Gupta and Raghunandan G, as well as investment companies. Jay Pawar, son of politician Ajit Pawar (nephew to Sharad Pawar), is also an investor.

Formula for success?

Patel and Ebrahim bring credibility to the table, as does the backing of the likes of Ravi Krishnan, the co-founder of Stepathlon and also part of the team that set up sports management company IMG’s operations in India. He will act as the league’s non-executive chairman.

However, there’s no denying it’s a risk. Having said that, greater the risk, the bigger the reward. The X1 league will give drivers a chance to measure themselves against established and upcoming global talent. There’s already talk of creating an X1 Team India – a collection of the country’s top drivers – and grooming them to take part in single-seater and sportscar championships abroad. If the concept takes off, it can only benefit Indian motorsport.

ABHISHEK TAKLE

]]>Staff Writer Staff Writer X1 Racing League: All you need to know2461402461401Mon, 2 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +1000413084Staff Writer Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000The X1 Racing League is taking a bold step into the unknown, going where very few have gone before. But with Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim in the driver&#8217;s seat, can it revolutionise Indian motorsport and succeed where others have failed?The X1 Racing League is taking a bold step into the unknown, going where very few have gone before. But with Aditya Patel and Armaan Ebrahim in the driver&#8217;s seat, can it revolutionise Indian motorsport and succeed where others have failed?Mon, 2 Sep 2019 08:00:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/auto-features/x1-racing-league-all-you-need-to-know-413084#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Motorsport+feed413084F2 driver Anthoine Hubert killed in Spa-Francorchamps crash

22-year-old French driver Anthoine Hubert has succumbed to injuries sustained in a crash during the Formula 2 (F2) race at the Spa-Francorchamps circuit in Belgium. Hubert was battling for a points finish when he hit the barrier after going off at the exit of Eau Rouge. His BWT Arden car was then struck by Sauber Junior Team’s Juan Manuel Correa.

The race was halted immediately and the emergency and medical crews attended to the drivers. Unfortunately, a statement released by the FIA confirmed that Hubert passed away roughly an hour after the incident.

Hubert had a promising career ahead of him – he’d moved up to F2 this year after winning the GP3 title last year and had won two races this season in Monaco and France. He was also part of Renault’s junior programme, receiving full backing from the Renault Sport Academy this year.

Tributes started pouring in as the news of Hubert’s passing was announced. In a statement posted on social media, Lewis Hamilton hailed the French racer as a hero and said, “All these drivers put their life on the line when they hit the track and people need to appreciate that in a serious way because it’s not appreciated enough".

“Anthoine is a hero as far as I’m concerned, for taking the risk he did to chase his dreams.”

Correa, who is said to be stable, is undergoing treatment at the CHU Liège hospital. The FIA also confirmed that another driver involved in the incident, Giuliano Alesi, was checked and declared fit at the medical centre.

Autocar India extends its heartfelt condolences to Hubert’s family, friends and team in the wake of this tragedy.

Of course, Ocon is well-known to Renault and the team in Enstone, having served as Renault’s reserve driver in 2016 and also being a Lotus junior programme member. "First and foremost, I am very proud to become a Renault driver. I have grown up at Enstone, starting with Lotus in 2010 and then with Renault. I am very attached to this team and everyone who works there; they are the ones who opened the doors of top level motorsport for me. Secondly, I am pleased that a team with big ambitions has entrusted me with the opportunity to once again demonstrate my skills at the highest level of F1. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. The confidence they have in me to help the progression of the team is a very positive pressure and I look forward to giving the best of myself,” he said.

After winning the GP3 title in 2015, Ocon made the move up to F1 with Manor Racing in 2016 before moving to Force India for the 2017 and 2018 seasons. Despite securing some impressive results during his stint at Force India, the team – now competing as the SportPesa Racing Point F1 Team under new ownership - opted to sign Sergio Perez and Lance Stroll for this season, leaving Ocon without a 2019 drive. He’s been serving as Mercedes’ reserve driver and was also speculated to be in contention for a seat at the team next year before Mercedes opted to retain Bottas.

"We are very happy to work with Esteban for the next two seasons. Over his F1 career Esteban has experienced the highs and lows of the sport, and fully understood the need to seize every possible chance. In addition to lending his natural talent, Esteban’s aim will be to focus his natural energy and drive, both of which have been intensified by a year away from racing. It is then up to us to infuse them into the next phase of the team’s progress,” said Cyril Abiteboul, Team Principal Renault F1 Team.

Ocon will be replacing Nico Hulkenberg at Renault, with the latter expected to sign with the Haas F1 team. In a statement posted on his social media Hulkenberg said “With regard to 2020, I am confident to find a good solution, but there is nothing to announce at the moment.”

Ace rally driver Gaurav Gill has officially won the 2019 Arjuna Award for Motorsports – a landmark moment with motorsport being recognised officially on the national stage in India. Gill was presented the award by the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, at the National Sports and Adventure Awards 2019, making him the first motorsport athlete to win the award, which is among the country’s top sports honours.

After being passed over on three previous occasions, Gill was finally nominated for the Arjuna Awards earlier this month. Over his two decade long career in motorsport, he has racked up trophies in a number of national and international events – including winning the Asia Pacific Rally Championship (APRC) thrice and winning the Indian National Rally Championship (INRC) six times. Internationally, he has also represented India in the World Rally Championship 2 (WRC2), participating in four rounds last year, and he’s expected to compete in at least three rounds this year.

While speaking to Autocar India, Gill highlighted what his Arjuna Award nomination means for Indian motorsport and all those looking to pursue a career in motorsport, saying: “What is really going to benefit is motorsport, and maybe rallying. Everyone’s going to start respecting us and the fact that there is a future, a light at the end of the tunnel, and that there can be massive opportunities to win something like this or to receive sponsorship.”

“India’s auto industry is quickly becoming the third-largest in the world. Why not have someone represent the industry and showcase how big and how important this could be. All in all, this is going to matter for everything related to the automotive sector. I just hope we start seeing days where the sports and auto industry finally pick up people from motorsport instead of Bollywood actors and cricketers to advertise their products. Also, it will be easier for young kids now to pick up and pursue motorsports, as they can now see that they can make a career out of it in the future. They can tell their parents someone’s got an Arjuna Award, why not me next?”

Gill believes the award will help provide the impetus motorsport needs in India by bringing it in the public eye: “The main thing is education. People need to be educated about our sport and need to understand how it works,” he says.

“The basic thing is that if you understand what it’s all about, then you’ll gain popularity. With popularity, it will become more commercial and that means more sponsors and more money in the sport.”

]]>Staff Writer Staff Writer Gaurav Gill becomes first motorsport athlete to win Arjuna Award2461402461401Thu, 29 Aug 2019 19:05:00 +1000413958Staff Writer Autocar India staff photograherMon, 1 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +1000Over his two decade long career in motorsport, Gill has racked up trophies in a number of national and international events.Over his two decade long career in motorsport, Gill has racked up trophies in a number of national and international events.Thu, 29 Aug 2019 19:05:00 +1000https://www.autocarindia.com/motor-sports-news/gaurav-gill-becomes-first-motorsport-athlete-to-win-arjuna-award-413958#utm_source=feed&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=Autocar+India+Motorsport+feed413958Mercedes retains Bottas for F1 2020

Mercedes has put months of speculation to an end, confirming that Valtteri Bottas will indeed continue driving for the team, alongside Lewis Hamilton in F1, next year.

Bottas joined Mercedes in 2017 and has played a key role in helping the team secure the constructors’ championship in the past two years, securing a total of five race wins and ten pole positions in his tenure with the team, so far. After a tough 2018 F1 season, he kicked off the 2019 season in strong fashion, taking a commanding victory at the season-opening Australian GPand later scoring another victory at the 2019 Azerbaijan GP. However, since then he’s struggled to keep up pace with his team-mate, five-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton, bringing into question his future at the team. Going into the Belgian GP this weekend, while Hamilton leads the drivers’ standings with 250 points, Bottas trails him in second place with 188 points.

Mercedes’ reserve driver Esteban Ocon was speculated to be in the running to bag a seat with the team, but Mercedes has instead decided to exercise its option to retain Bottas next year. Explaining the team’s decision to continue with Bottas, Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff said: “For 2019, we set Valtteri the challenge of coming back even stronger than we saw him in the first part of 2018 – and he has achieved that, with some really impressive performances in the early races this year,”

“The results we have achieved together with Valtteri are no coincidence: he has been an integral part of our championship success in the past two seasons, his teamwork with Lewis has been exemplary and he has shown real strength of character in how he has responded to setbacks. I’m delighted that he will stay with the team for another season at least – and look forward to seeing him raise the bar even further.”

“I am very happy and proud to be part of the team for a fourth season,” added Bottas.

“My performances have been getting better and better each year, and this is a great way to kick start the second half of 2019. My overall target is to become Formula One world champion. I believe that on paper, and from my experience with the team, Mercedes is the best option for me to achieve that goal in 2020. We have nine races to go this season and I am determined to keep improving at every one of them. Now, all my thoughts are on Spa and delivering a strong performance with the team this weekend.”